Pet Articles
Ragdolls
by Harriet Arkle
Ragdoll cats are some of the most loving creatures you could ever wish to meet. They have a naturally affectionate “purrsonality” and want to spend all their time with their owners, whether their owners are children or adults. In fact, they are hailed as a lap dog in a cat’s body, making them perfect for children who want something to cuddle, or people who can't have or don't want the responsibility of walking a dog.
Ragdolls are one of the largest breeds of domestic cats, but don't let that put you off. They really are gentle giants and, with non matting fur, they are easy to look after and hassle free. Although their fur is non matting, they are semi longhaired and still need the occasional groom, however your best bet is to get a mitten brush, that way your raggies will be queuing up in front of you to feel your loving strokes! I always keep one at hand to meet any demands that are made.
Ragdolls can be found in three main patterns, colourpoint, where there is colour on their paws, tail, face and ears, mitted, the same as colourpoint but with a white chin and white mitts on their front legs and white 'socks' on their back legs. Finally there is bicolour, and this is where they have white paws, front and back, and a white inverted v on their faces.
The colours are seal (dark brown), blue (slate blue), red (ginger), cream (very pale ginger), chocolate (a pale milk chocolate) and lilac (a mushroom blue, and we are one of only three breeders in the country to provide this colour). You can also find ragdolls in mixtures of these colours, red and seal, blue and cream. These are called torties, and have striking features, taking the best from both worlds. Finally, a ragdoll can have a tabby or sometimes called lynx pattern over their original pattern, so they can be a mitted, but also a tabby. This gives them a wonderful stripy tiger like face, paws and body and is really attractive.
One other thing to remember when looking at the ragdoll, is that they will ALWAYS have blue eyes. Sometimes this varies, but the best eye colour (by show standards) is a deep blue, that you could fall into.
I can honestly say that, since starting to breed ragdolls when I was 15, I have never found a breed quite like them. They are loving, charismatic, intelligent and just stunning to look at. I would recommend a ragdoll as your new family member any day.
For more information on this wonderful breed please contact us on 01653 699108 or email harriet_arkle@hotmail.com. Alternatively for more information about ragdolls and Preziosa Ragdolls (one of the only licensed breeders in the country and the only breeder to hold a diploma in feline studies) please visit our site www.preziosaragdolls.com. |
